Meet Slippy the penguin at the aviary
A contest has bestowed the very Pittsburgh name “Slippy” upon one of the new African penguins at the National Aviary.
Peoples Natural Gas concluded a conservation awareness campaign by announcing Slippy’s name. Thirtynine percent of voters picked Slippy, which beat out Rooney,Fidget and Milton.
Next Saturday, certified falconer Cathy Schlott will lead a two-hour program, Falconry — The Sport of Kings! Participants can see and photograph a Lanner falcon, learn about falconry equipment, and get information on how to become a certified falconer. The 10 a.m.noon class at the North Side bird zoo is $50, and reservations are required. Call 412258-9445.
Other summer events include indoor and outdoor flight shows. Go to www.aviary.org for the full lineup.
Animal Friends adoptions
A “Choose Your Family Member Adoption Event” is scheduled next weekend at Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township (15237). Fun family activities, food and adoption specials for dogs, cats and rabbits are promised. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. next Saturday and June 18.
Hero Dogs
The nearly 200 courageous canines in the running for the 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Awards have been whittled down to 21 semifinalists. Voting runs through June 28 to pick seven finalists.
Go to herodogawards.org to see photos and bios of all the dogs and to cast your vote. There are no dogs from the Pittsburgh area.
“Even before he was my cat, he saved my life,” Mr. Marino said in a telephone interview. “That little kitten helpedme to realize I was not just a sack of damaged goods. He gave me the confidence to overcomeall adversity.”
Scout lived happily in Pittsburgh with Josh, Becky and her three cats. Then one day, he was lethargic. A trip to the veterinarian brought the worst possible diagnosis: feline leukemia. Josh and Becky were told it was congenital and not contagious.
“He got a transfusion and we got two more weeks with him. He passed away in my arms and it hurt so much. I don’t go a single day without thinking about him,” Mr. Marino said.
PTSD “has to be dealt with. It cannot really be cured,” he said.
Yet he shares his message of hope and recovery at his job and in the Mutual Rescue film. At mutualrescue.org, there are other short films. One posted last year, “Eric & Peety,” has been viewed 88 milliontimes.
The films are made with the help of a grant from PetSmart Charities. Mutual Rescue is a national initiative created by Humane Society Silicon Valley. Part of the California shelter’s mission is “changing the conversation from people OR animals to people AND animals,” said Carol Novello, its president.
“Of $373 billion in charitable donations made in the U.S. in 2015, less than 1 percent went to animal-related causes.”
Mutual Rescue encourages people to donate to their local shelters. Mr. Marino is getting $1,000 from the Mutual Rescue project and is giving it to Humane Animal Rescue. On Mutual Rescue’s website, anyone can submit a story about an animal and a person rescuing each other. The deadline is June 30.